LTI, Warbond & insurance
Three words do most of the heavy lifting in any Star Citizen listing — and cause most of the confusion. Here is what they actually mean.
Hull insurance in one paragraph
When your ship is destroyed in the game, insurance is what lets you claim a replacement. Pledges come with a hull-insurance term attached — commonly 3, 6, 12 or 120 months, or special durations from events like IAE. The clock is planned to start with the game's full release economy, and in-game renewal is intended to be an affordable routine cost, not a paywall.
What LTI actually is
LTI — Lifetime Insurance — is hull insurance that never expires. No renewals, no managing terms, ever. CIG has been consistent that standard insurance will not be punishing in-game, so LTI is best understood as convenience plus resale value: the market consistently pays a premium for LTI pledges, and they never create upkeep anxiety. It applies to the hull, not to cargo or upgrades.
Warbond vs. store credit
A warbond pledge was bought with fresh money, usually at a discount and often with better insurance attached. A standard (store-credit) pledge was bought by melting other pledges. On the secondary market the distinction matters because warbond versions are scarcer and carry the better perks — listings on StarPlace flag warbond items for exactly that reason.
How insurance travels in a trade
Insurance belongs to the pledge, so it moves with the gift: buy a ship with 120 months, receive it with 120 months. The same logic powers the famous LTI token: CCU chains keep the insurance of the base pledge, so a chain started from a small LTI concept ship delivers the final ship with LTI (read our CCU chains guide for the mechanics).
Shopping with this knowledge
On StarPlace listings you will see LTI and insurance terms displayed as badges, and warbond editions marked. Same ship, different insurance, different fair price — now you know why.